Moonlight Cinema 2016-17

Overview

Cinephiles, picnic-lovers and everyone in between, rejoice — the annual combination of movies, outdoor eating and park hangouts that is Moonlight Cinema is back for another round.

After locking in their dates back in September, Australia's biggest outdoor cinema has confirmed their full 2026-17 summer program — and it's a goodie. Kicking off on the first day of summer (how fitting) in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, this year's setup boasts all the regular features that make this one of the country's most popular summer events. Big screen shimmering beneath the stars? Check. Food trucks serving the ultimate movie munchies? Check. Letting super-organised patrons BYO their own snacks? Check. A huge lineup of new releases and cult classics? You betcha.

Expect all the big summer releases, like sci-fi thriller Passengers, the much-anticipated La La Land with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and Lion, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley who found his birth mother in India via Google Earth after 25 years of separation. Naturally, they'll also be playing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (which was released today) as well as the yet-to-be-released Star Wars: Rogue One and game-turned-film Assassins Creed. As always, they'll also throw in a few cult favourites — this year it's Grease and Back to the Future — and some Doggie Nights, which will kick off with The Secret Life of Pets.

Of course, heading to Moonlight isn't just about the movies shown, as fun as getting a sneak peek of upcoming flicks or sharing the joyous glow of watching iconic favourites on a big screen is. It's also about the experience, which is why you're allowed to start getting excited without knowing which films you'll be watching — and why you should be blocking out December through to April in your calendar. Tickets are on sale now.

UPDATE JANUARY 17, 2017: Moonlight Cinema have just announced their February program, which includes new new releases such as the much anticipated T2 Trainspotting, Australian book adaptation Jasper Jones, Cannes favourite Loving, and Hidden Figures, which tells the story of three brilliant African-American women at NASA. You can buy tickets for Feb here.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 15, 2017: Moonlight Cinema have now announced their March program, which includes awaited Japanese manga adaptation Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson, the live-action remake of Beauty and The Beast starring Emma Watson, haunting thriller A Cure for Wellness, WW2 Bill Nighy jaunt Their Finest, plus Aussie films like the sequel to the worldwide success A Few Best Men, A Few Less Men. Plus, cult films like Point Break and Ferris Bueller's Day Off roll out on Thursdays. Tickets for March are available here.